My Dear Whig, - I came down here today in the Canada, leaving Kingston at six instead of half-past five. As the Canada is comparatively a slow coach, and wants every minute of time to do her work in day light, Capt. O'Connor complained bitterly of the half hour's delay at the Post Office. The Magnet was in very early, and really it seemed cruel to delay the boat. An extra half an hour is life or death to a man in a hurry. The Canada was crowded with American travellers - two tables full at breakfast, with crowding at that....

With all due deference to the worthy steamboat proprietors, it is high time the Canada was taken off the Line, and replaced by some newer and swifter vessel. While the Mail Contractor has two fast boats lying idle, and the owners of the Canada have a new vessel ready for work, it seems odd, that this old steamer is continued. To see the contempuous sneers which the American ladies and gentlemen's countenances expressed, while viewing the boat all around, would have done more good, had they been seen by the owners, than all I could write for a month. The Canadians have fine river boats - why are they not used? The public want a simple answer to this simple question. But while I condemn the Canada, as being past the age, don't let me whisper ought against her Captain. He is the most civil, most obliging, most accommodating gentleman aboard his boat that ever I met with; and every body else seemed to think as I did. When a man determines to make himself agreeable, he rarely misses his mark, and Capt. O'Connor has the faculty of making every passenger pleased with his attentions. Something happened this forenoon that I never saw exhibited in any other steamboat Captain's behalf, long as I have lived in Canada. It was raining slightly when the steamer Lord Elgin passed the Canada on her upward route, and Capt. O'Connor went forward to give the saluting peal, several ladies and gentlemen on board the Lord Elgin came forward and cheered him; the ladies waving their handkerchiefs, and the gentlemen their hats, as the vessels passed each other. Struck at so unusual a compliment, I made enquiries and found that the pleasing recognition came from a pleasure party on their way to the Falls, whom Capt. O'Connor had brought up from Montreal the preceeding day, and whom he had disembarked at Prescott. Meeting him next day, they took this mode of evincing their sense of the attentions paid to them. The sooner, therefore, the steam-boat proprietors give him a newer and larger vessel, the better it must be for their interests. And so let Capt. O'Connor pass.....

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